It's National Obesity Week until 19 October 2016 and it’s not only people who have a big problem. Vets say about half the pets they treat weigh more than is healthy.

Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution is a completely balanced food that contains natural ingredients that help shift the metabolism from fat storing to fat burning, allowing pets to lose weight, and maintain weight loss, more effectively than other traditional weight management foods. And it works! 88% of dogs and 81% of cats lost weight in the first two months of eating Hill’s Metabolic.

If your pet could do with losing a little, Hill's is giving away four Metabolic hampers – two for dogs, and two for cats (there will be four winners in total). 

Each cat hamper will comprise:

• 1 x Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline Metabolic 1.5kg and a play tunnel

Each dog hamper will comprise:

• 1 x Hill’s Prescription Diet Canine Metabolic 4kg food and a ball launcher

(PS: I love the fact that Hill's have included toys for play and exercise too!)

According to South African vets, more than half the patients they treat are overweight, which puts them at risk of arthritis, heart disease and even cancer. 

They also say that nine out of 10 owners mistakenly think their pet is the correct weight. For a professional and non-objective opinion, you can find a participating Hill’s Pet Slimmer practice this month on the Pet Slimmer site, and book a weight assessment, which are often offered free of charge – check with the practice.

For inspiration, check out these in the 2016 Hill’s Pet Slimmer of the Year competition. The winner will be announced on November 1, and I'm holding thumbs for Maggy the Pug, or Shanna the Rottweiler.

The winner will get R10 000 prize money, and the two runners up receiving R7 000 and R5 000 respectively. All 10 finalists win a professional family photo shoot, a bottle of celebratory champagne and three months' supply of their favourite Hill’s pet food.

To enter to win:

Simply comment below, and mention if you'd like to win a dog or a cat hamper. If you'd like to enter for both, please comment twice (so that I can fairly draw the winners). The giveaway closes on Friday 21 October at 9am, after which the winners will be announced on the Rattle and Mum Facebook page, and then emailed.

Please note this prize is only suitable for overweight pets, and the giveaway is open to South African residents only. The prizes cannot be exchanged for anything else in the Hill's range.